The Jiayou Biking Trail, extending 3.1 kilometers through Chiayi County and City, was built as an oil transport railway in 1937 during the Japanese occupation. It was specifically designed to fuel the Japanese military aircraft at the Chiayi Airport.

Following the conclusion of World War II in 1945, the CPC Corporation, Taiwan, assumed control of operations and transitioned the method of solvent transportation from bullock carts to railways. However, as road transport became more prevalent over time, the use of railways dwindled, leading to their discontinuation in 2002.

The Jiayou Biking Trail initially saw the operation of the uniquely designed B1 and B2 steam locomotives made in Japan (photo courtesy of Station Chief Hsin-Yu Chang), characterized by their exceptionally lightweight driving wheels. These were later replaced in 1961 by the D-1 diesel locomotive from Niigata Engineering in Japan and then in 1980 by the D-2 diesel locomotive manufactured by Hitachi Heavy Industries, both sporting a blue base paint. The final model used was the D-3 diesel locomotive, produced by PLYMOUTH in the United States in 1989, featuring a distinctive blue and white striped color scheme. Over the years, a total of five types of locomotives ran on the Jiayou Biking Trail until the railway was eventually decommissioned.

To preserve the historical significance of the old railway and promote tourism, the Chiayi City Government secured land from the CPC Corporation, Taiwan, in 2005 without any cost. This land was transformed into a public space dedicated to walking and cycling. Following the completion of the project in 2008, an online poll led to the official naming of the trail as "Jiayou Biking Trail." This name skillfully blends elements from Chiayi City and the CPC Corporation, Taiwan, while also playing on the homophonic phrase "jiayou," which means "to refuel" or "keep going." This symbolically infuses the trail with a spirit of energy and motivation.